Lyme Disease: Alternative Treatment Is Dangerous

The FDA says one death and several reports of injury have been associated with an unproved compound, bismacine (also known as chromacine), touted as an alternative therapy for Lyme disease.

The agency says the compound, which is given by injection, contains high amounts of bismuth -- a heavy metal used in oral preparations to treat H. pylori. Bismuth in not approved for use in any injectable form.

Possible side effects of bismuth toxicity include cardiovascular collapse and kidney failure, according to the FDA.